As Monsignor Robert A. Armstrong prepares to retire as rector of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien has named a Glen Burnie pastor to succeed him in the high-profile post.
Father J. Bruce Jarboe, pastor of Holy Trinity in Glen Burnie since 2002, will take on his new assignment Jan. 1. He hopes to build on Monsignor Armstrong’s 25-year legacy at the cathedral.
“Monsignor Armstrong’s impact on parish life and identity is huge,” said Father Jarboe. “I’ll try to learn as best I can from him as we manage the transition together.”
The new rector said he has great confidence in the staff at the 1,620-family cathedral faith community. His top priority is to learn about the parish and the 438-student school.
“The approach I try to take is to develop and foster an environment of collegiality, teamwork and a ministry that is shared together,” said Father Jarboe, who also currently ministers as pastor of Glen Burnie’s Church of the Crucifixion and Church of the Good Shepherd.
Prior to becoming pastor of Holy Trinity, Father Jarboe served as associate director and then director of the archdiocesan clergy personnel office. He previously served as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception in Towson and St. Mark in Catonsville.
Raised in the Woodlawn parish of St. Lawrence, Father Jarboe graduated from Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. He earned a business degree from Loyola University Maryland before studying to become a priest at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park. He was ordained a priest in 1986.
The 50-year-old pastor called it bittersweet to leave his current assignment.
“I will greatly miss the wonderful people in Glen Burnie that I’ve been blessed to serve and work with,” he said. “At the same time, I’ll be eager to get to know the cathedral parish and school and all the activities that are associated with them so I can do my best to serve them.”
Archbishop O’Brien said he has “no doubt that Father Jarboe’s many gifts will continue to serve him in his new position, and that he will build on the impressive achievements of his venerable predecessors.”